When right guard Randy Thomas signed with Washington this offseason, the Jets knew it would be a challenge to replace him. But they couldn’t possibly have imagined it would be quite this difficult.

Herman Edwards says Tom Nutten, Brent Smith and Jonathan Goodwin are waging a “good battle,” but all three have given Jet fans cause for concern. The first two seem injury-prone, the second is learning a new position and the third is untested.

“They’re having a battle there; it’s a pretty good battle, too,” Edwards said. “Smith, Nutten and [Goodwin] are all playing good. John has played center a bit, so we’ve got guys that can rotate in there that can play dual positions. We’re just trying to find best guy.

“You’ve got three good players that can play a bunch of positions. We’ve got three games left; we’ll see where it ends up. We have guys competing. That’s good, you’ll find the best guy. They’ll all get snaps, so we can get a good evaluation of all three.”

Goodwin, a fifth-round pick last year, seems the longshot to earn the nod, but neither of the experienced candidates has seized the job.

Nutten, who started two Super Bowls for St. Louis, signed a four-year, $5.6 million deal this offseason and arrived as the starter. But after suffering a season-ending broken fibula last November, the 31-year-old is banged-up again.

An elbow injury cost Nutten three days of practice last week and the preseason win vs. Cincinnati. He returned to practice yesterday, but Smith – who started in Nutten’s place against the Bengals – continued working with the first unit.

“It’s not going to keep me out, but it’s going to linger and affect me to a certain extent,” Nutten said between two-a-days, with an ice pack on his injured elbow. He expects to play Saturday vs. the Saints. “I hope [my recovery] will be shorter than longer,” he added.

“But in this profession you don’t have a week off where you can take time away from everything and heal. I just hope to get enough work in to get better and at the same time not make the injury worse,” Nutten said.

That’s something the Jets can ill afford. It would seem mildly disturbing that Smith – who’s missed the last two seasons and is being moved to a position he’s only played once in his career – is contending for the job.

He tore his left ACL on the first day of Dolphins training camp in 2001. Then he tore his right ACL in the third preseason game last year. Miami predictably let him go in the offseason. “I don’t blame them; it’s a business. I don’t have any hard feelings,” Smith said with a shrug.

The Jets signed him as a left tackle, but now they’ve not only switched him from left to right, but from tackle to guard. His only other appearance at guard was starting a 1998 playoff game at left guard.

“I’m with the first group right now, but the job’s still open. There’s more evaluating to be done,” Smith said. “I’m getting more and more comfortable. Every time I get a rep, I get more comfortable playing the right side and playing guard.

“[Missing two years] was frustrating, but I had good treatment, good rehab, and came back,” Smith continued. “The Jets gave me another chance, and I’m glad to get out there on the field. I’m thankful. I haven’t made it to the regular season in two years. I’m hoping my luck is going to change.”